The Saguaro Hotel by Stamberg Aferiat

Opened in November [2011], The Saguaro reflects the colorful, vibrant character of the Southwest. With a bold color palette developed from indigenous wildflowers in the surrounding landscape by renowned architects Stamberg Aferiat, the hotel’s vivid façade and interiors feature hues of yellow, orange, pink, and green, making the space, inside and out, a bright and joyful place to be. The Saguaro is located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale within a thriving cultural hub that offers guests plenty to see and do. Whether venturing out to the nearby world-class golf courses, exploring the hiking trails of Camelback Mountain, taking in the sites of the Arts district or experiencing the exciting nightlife of Old Town, The Saguaro is the perfect retreat – a thoughtful desert oasis where guests can relax with all of the comforts and sophistication of a boutique hotel while enjoying the best of what Arizona has to offer just steps away.

This 194-room hotel features a variety of amenities, including two heated outdoor swimming pools and cabanas, a full-service spa, and 10,000 square feet of meeting space. The hotel’s furniture draws on Scottsdale’s cultural context, featuring simple pieces paired with traditional designs inspired by the Southwest. Each room offers a patio or a step out balcony, and many have views of Civic Center Park or Old Town. All guest rooms have a work desk and a stereo with and iPod docking station. The Saguaro’s signature restaurant, Distrito, is under the direction of award-winning chef Jose Garces, named “Best Chef Mid-Atlantic 2009” by the James Beard Foundation. Guests can also enjoy Old Town Whiskey, a bar evocative of frontier drink parlors, and Garces Trading Company (GTC) Coffee To-Go.

The architects, Stamberg Aferiat, are known for their bold use of color in architecture, and their ideas about color theory in design. This is their first hospitality project. They developed the color palette for the property from indigenous wildflowers in the region. The hotel’s vivid façade features hues of white, green, yellow, orange and pink, which are applied to the structure so that it highlights the natural rhythm of the building. The hotel’s furniture draws on Scottsdale’s cultural context, featuring simple pieces paired with traditional designs inspired by Latin / Southwestern influences like the work of Mexican architect Luis Barragán.

The Saguaro is a Joie de Vivre property (the largest boutique hotel group in California), and this is their first hotel outside of the state where they have 30 other properties. The hotel is developed by Sydell, who own the ACE Palm Springs and New York, and are known for pairing interesting collaborators together.